Die Fledermaus - Live from Vienna 31/12/11

[Petrushka]

You may like to know that Johann Strauss's operetta, Die Fledermaus is being broadcast live on the Austrian Radio from the Vienna State Opera on Saturday, December 31 conducted by Franz Welser-Most.

http://oe1.orf.at/programm/292086

The relay begins at 18.00 (GMT).

[Chris Newman]

Oh, dear. I would love to hear this. I am staying with relations overnight on the 30th. I hope I can get away in time to hear it. They are not keeping it for 7 days replay for contractual reasons.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

How many of those poor Vienna State Opera Orchestra players will have to be up at the crack of dawn to join the ranks of the VPO for the New Year's Day Concert?

[Chris Newman]

How many of those poor Vienna State Opera Orchestra players will have to be up at the crack of dawn to join the ranks of the VPO for the New Year's Day Concert?

And they play that twice. Mind you, I bet they get good overtime rates.

[Petrushka]

How many of those poor Vienna State Opera Orchestra players will have to be up at the crack of dawn to join the ranks of the VPO for the New Year's Day Concert?

The answer is probably none. There will be enough players to go round for both. Don't forget that the VPO are also playing in the New Year Concert at the same time that very evening.

[Prommer]

Just settle down to the Kleiber Fledermaus that is on DVD and see how it is really done!

[Petrushka]

Just settle down to the Kleiber Fledermaus that is on DVD and see how it is really done!

I remember watching that live on New Year's Eve 1986. And then we got Karajan at the Vienna concert the following morning - heaven indeed! Got the Kleiber DF on video somewhere but must get the DVD!

The major problem with Fledermaus is Act 3 which has too much dialogue and too little music. There were obviously a lot of jokes in this Vienna performance that pass the non-German speaker by but glad I listened to it.

[Chris Newman]

The major problem with Fledermaus is Act 3 which has too much dialogue and too little music. There were obviously a lot of jokes in this Vienna performance that pass the non-German speaker by but glad I listened to it.

It is important to get a good visual comedian for the jailer, Frosch, and Herr Frank, the Prison Governor needs to have comedic tricks up his sleeve otherwise the last act drags; if it goes well it flies. German comedian Joseph Meinraad is brilliant as Frosch on the famous now rather elderly (New Year's Eve) Royal Opera recording (Hermann Prey, Kiri te Kanawa, Ben Luxon) conducted by Placido Domingo whom he (Meinraad) plays with delightfully. The fact that the rest of the cast speak in English makes him even funnier. But great shows like that are one-offs. I would love to have seen Marcel Marceau, Max Wall or Fernandel as Frosch (all in my dreams)...or even Rowan Atkinson.

[makropulos]

It is important to get a good visual comedian for the jailer, Frosch, and Herr Frank, the Prison Governor needs to have comedic tricks up his sleeve otherwise the last act drags; if it goes well it flies. German comedian Joseph Meinraad is brilliant as Frosch on the famous now rather elderly (New Year's Eve) Royal Opera recording (Hermann Prey, Kiri te Kanawa, Ben Luxon) conducted by Placido Domingo whom he (Meinraad) plays with delightfully. The fact that the rest of the cast speak in English makes him even funnier. But great shows like that are one-offs. I would love to have seen Marcel Marceau, Max Wall or Fernandel as Frosch (all in my dreams)...or even Rowan Atkinson.

Absolutely, Chris! I went to the dress rehearsal of that ROH Fledermaus and saw the New Year's Eve performance on the telly - and remember it well for all the right reasons. I'm also trying to recall who played Frosch at ENO in the mid-70s when Charles Mackerras (and Noel Davies among others) conducted it so marvellously - my old programmes are in store so I can't check but they were terrific performances with Anne Evans, Emile Belcourt et al - could have been Eric Shilling but I'm not sure. As for a dream Frank or Frosch my thoughts somehow turn inevitably to Groucho Marx...

[Chris Newman]

Absolutely, Chris! I went to the dress rehearsal of that ROH Fledermaus and saw the New Year's Eve performance on the telly - and remember it well for all the right reasons. I'm also trying to recall who played Frosch at ENO in the mid-70s when Charles Mackerras (and Noel Davies among others) conducted it so marvellously - my old programmes are in store so I can't check but they were terrific performances with Anne Evans, Emile Belcourt et al - could have been Eric Shilling but I'm not sure. As for a dream Frank or Frosch my thoughts somehow turn inevitably to Groucho Marx...

I recall Frankie Howerd being all wrong and disappointing whilst Joe Melia and Francis Egerton were excellent. I think Eric Shilling was Frank the Prison Governor. He always managed to throw his hat across the stage and get it to land on the hat stand and had a wonderful whistle like Michael Langdon at the Royal Opera.

I heard and saw it conducted by both Sir Charles and Noel. I also witnessed very sparkling performances with Henry Krips (The English nom-de-plum used by Heinrich Kripps, brother of Josef) and Georg Tintner. I gather Georgy Fischer also conducted it as George Fisher). Hazel Vivienne conducted it under her own name and as Victor (I forget the surname) when she felt that women conductors were not getting a fair hearing.

[amateur51]

Hazel Vivienne conducted it under her own name and as Victor (I forget the surname) when she felt that women conductors were not getting a fair hearing.

That's a name from the past, Chris!

[makropulos]

That's a name from the past, Chris!

Ah - Victor Morris. A very talented repetiteur and chorus trainer who conducted some very good performances at ENO.
There was more to the name change than feeling women conductors were not getting a fair hearing, since it also involved a sex change.

[Flosshilde]

Unfortunately I forgot about this, & listened to Traviata from Covent Garden instead - a rather poor Violetta.

I saw the SO production (of Fledermuas) done by Giles Havergal - great fun & very enjoyable music